Tentering-machine.



No. 787,785. v PATENTED APR. 18, 1905; A. M'QLEAN.

TENTERING MACHINE.

APPLIUAT IO N FILED APR. 11, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1'.

UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

ANDREI/V MoLEAN, OF PASSAIC, NEWV JERSEY.

TENTERlNG-IVIACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,785, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed April 11, 1904. Serial No. 202,534.

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LANDREW MoLEAN,of Passaic, county of Passaic, State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Tentering- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to tenteringmachines; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a construction of machine for treating fabrics to a tentering process which shall dispense with the usual reciprocating longitudinal frames for producing the stretching of the fabric transversely and on the diagonal and obtain the same results by a simultaneously stretching in opposite directions, laterally considered, at different points in the length of the fabric. In accomplishing this object I cause the fabric to be stretched between two conveyers or chains which travel in a sinuous or zigzag path, so that not only do I secure a transverse stretching, but also a diagonal stretching.

Moreover, my object is to adapt the machne to fabrics of irregular or slightly-varying widths, making it compensate automatically to accommodate itself to such variations.

By my improvements the operator has less difficulty in insuring the proper feeding of the machine, as the fabric is fed into the clothclamps always at a relatively definite distance apart, so that there is no difficulty in insuring every'clamp properly taking hold of the selvage in an automatic manner.

In carrying out my invention I provide two longitudinal frames having chain-guides and combined with adjusting devices for adjusting their distance apart to suit fabrics of different widths. The adjusting devices are of such character that at least one of the frames is automatically adjustable to and from the other frame to keep the fabric under tension irrespective of variations in width and to suit different pieces of fabric which may difler slightly in width without readjusting the main distance between the two frames. The guides for the conveyers or chains are preferably straight in part and the remaining portions are ofa serpentine, sinuous, or zigzag form, so that the clamps or cloth-holding devices thereof are caused to pull the cloth alternately in opposite lateral directionsfirst in one direction and then in the other, and so on.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the above features, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a tentering-machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of same on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the part of the machine shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line 5 5 of Fig. 3, showing the supports and carriage for the longitudinal frames; and Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of chainguide adapted to my invention.

A represents a series of transverse guideframes and are suitably supported at each end by pedestals A. These frames are preferably made with upper and lower flanges, like an I-beam in cross-section.

B is a longitudinal frame having chainguides J K, and B B represent the other longitudinal frame having similar chain-guides J K. This last-mentioned frame is 'made in two main parts, the part B being supported and adjusted similarly to the frame B, while the part B is capable of the same adjustment and also has capacity for automatic adjustment. Journaled in each of the frames A is an adjusting screw-shaft E, having its ends respectively formed with right and left hand screw-threads. Sleeves D are screwed upon each end of this screw-shaft and are journaled in the carriages D, which are guided upon the upper flanges of the transverse guide-frames A. Set-screws tZ are employed to secure the sleeves D against rotating within the carriages C. The carriages C C support the longitudinal frames B and B preferably by studs 0. The remaining portion B of the longitudinal frames is in sections and is supported upon carriagesFthrough pivot-studsf. These carriages F straddle the transverse frames A and have guide-wheels F, which fit between the upper and lower flanges on each side of said frames, and thereby guide the carriages and hold them against tilting forward under the tension of the fabric. The adjustin -screws E pass through these carriages F, but without positively connecting with them. Springs I encircle the screw-shafts and press against the inner faces of the carriages and 'are held in position by sleeves H, acting as nuts on the said screw-shafts E, said sleeves being journaled in slidingbloclts G and normally clamped to the blocks by set-screws it.

By turning the screw-shafts E in one direction or the other the longitudinal conveyerframes B B B may be adjusted to or from each other to suit fabrics of different widths and for giving the proper tension. The carriages F, with the frame B, are free to move relatively to the screw-shafts, because they are held under the action of the springs I, and I this capacity for spring adjustment compensates for the irregularities in the width of the same piece of fabric and prevents objectionable slaekness of the cloth at any time during its treatment, thereby insuring a continuous tension being upon the fabric at all times. These shafts E may be adjusted in any suitable manner. As shown, the several shafts have hand-wheels c, by which they can be turned, or they may be adjusted in any other convenient way, as is well known in the art of tentering-maehines. When the shafts E are rotated, the sleeves D and H are moved along the screw-shafts and carry with them the longitudinal frames. In the case of the frame B it is pushed outward by the springs I when the sleeve H is screwed outwardly, and when screwed inwardly the frame B is pushed inwardly by the frame B WVhen the machine is being set up, the setscrews d and h are loosened and the sleeves D and H rotated upon the shaftE until the proper positions of the frames B B B are secured, and then the said set-screws are again tightened. This greatly facilitates the necessary adjustment in setting the machine and overcomes the dismantling of the part, as has heretofore been necessary when adjusting the machine in the first instance.

The frame B is made in sections, so that it is flexible horizontally, and the several sections are supported by the pivot-pins f upon the carriage F. In this way one portion of the frame B may move independently of another portion, and thereby it gives to the machine capacity for automatic accommodation to the various widths of the fabric passing through the machine.

The chain-guides J in the frames B and B are straight, whereas the chain-guides K of the frames B and B are in part straight and part sinuous, serpentine, or zigzag, as shown at 7 The curvature of the chain-guides on one frame is the complement of the guide on the other frame, so that the fabric may be respectively pulled sidewise first in one direction and then in the other. The chains M are guided in the guide-grooves J K and are endless, passing forward in the guide-grooves K and returning by the grooves J and passing about the chain-wheels L and L at each end of the machine, said wheels being carried by the longitudinal frames or connections therewith. These chains are provided with clothclamps m, as shown in Fig. 3, the cloth being indicated in dotted lines at S. These clamps are of the usual spring clamp construction and may be automatically opened to take the cloth by cams T at the receiving end of the machine and also opened at the delivery end by cams T to release the fabric.

The chain-wheels L at the delivery end of the machine are secured upon vertical shafts l, and these are rotated in opposite directions by bevel-gears m, driven by a transverse shaft M, gears M and belt-wheel M. Motion may be given to the chains in any other convenient manner, as it is immaterial to my invention what form or type of power-transmitting devices may be employed.

The serpentine, sinuous, or zigzag guiding of the chains of cloth-clamps preferably does not extend over the whole length of the machine and may be confined to a portion only of its length, as indicated in Fig. 1, the remaining portions being formed with straight guides. These straight portions simply act to keep the fabric under tension while being dried in such manner as tentering-machines are usually provided with.

WVhile I prefer to employ chains of clamps, it is to be understood that I do not confine myself to clamps, as any other means for holding and stretching the fabric may be employed in lieu thereof.

In place of the sinuous or serpentine chainguides in the form of grooves they may be madein the form of chain-wheels K, as shown in Fig. 5. In this case the chains are guided alternately about opposite sides of a series of guide-wheels. Any other manner of securing the serpentine or zigzag movement of the chains may be used, if desired.

While I prefer the construction shown as an excellent embodiment of my invention, I do not confine myself to the details thereof, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two traveling flexible cloth-stretching conveyers, guides therefor arranged substantially parallel and having portions adapted to cause the conveyers to travel in a sinuous or zigzag course, and means for holding the guides apart with an elastic pressure to keep the cloth stretched and compensate for variation in its width.

2. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two traveling flexible cloth-stretching conveyers, guides therefor arranged substantially parallel and each having portions adapted to cause the conveyers to travel in a sinuous or zigzag course and simultaneously in the same direction, and means for holding the guides apart with an elastic pressure to keep the cloth stretched and compensate for variation in its width.

3. In a tentering-machine, thecombination of two traveling flexible cloth-stretching conveyers, guides therefor arranged substantially parallel and having portions adapted to cause the conveyers to travel in a sinuous or zigzag course, means for holding the guides apart with an' elastic pressure to keep the cloth stretched and compensate for variations in its width, and means for adjusting the guides nearer together or farther apart to suit fabrics of different widths.

4. In a tentering machine, the combination of two traveling flexible cloth-stretching con-' veyers, guides therefor arranged substantially parallel and having portions adapted to cause the conveyers to travel in asinuous or zigzag course, and one of which guides is made in sections, means for independently adjusting the difierent portions of the guides nearer together or farther apart to suit fabrics of different widths and vary the degree of tension at different portions oflthe length of theguides, and springs acting upon the several sections of the'guide for moving them with an elastic pressure to keep the cloth under tension and compensate for variations in its width.

5. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two traveling flexible cloth-stretching conveyers, guides therefor arranged substantially parallel and having portions adapted to cause the conveyers to travel in a sinuous or zigzag course,means for adjusting the normal position of the guides nearer together or farther apart to suit fabrics of different widths, and spring devices for automatically operating upon one set of the conveyers and guides to yieldingly force it away fromthe other set of the conveyers and guides to keep the fabric under tension.

6. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two traveling flexible cloth-stretching conveyers, guides therefor arranged substantially parallel and having portions adapted to cause the conveyers to travel in a sinuous or zigzag course, means for holding the guides apart with an elastic pressure to keep the cloth stretched and compensate for variations in its width and power devices for moving the two conveyers at the same speed.

7. In a tentering-machine, the combination of a longitudinal guide-frame having a chainguide one portion of which is irregular to form substantially a sinuous path, a second longitudinal guide-frame also having a chainguide corresponding with that of the firstmentioned frame, transverse adjusting-screws for normally adjusting the two frames to or 8. In a tentering-machine, the combination of alongitudinal guide-frame having a chainguide one portion of which is irregular to form substantially a sinuous path, a second longitudinal guide-frame also having a chainguide corresponding with that of the firstmentioned frame, transverse adjusting-screws for normally adjusting the two frames to or from each other, spring tension devices between one of the guide-frames and the several transverse screws consisting of a nut screwed upon the screw and adapted to be fed along the screw and a spring interposed between the nut and chain-guide frame, guiding devices for guiding the automatically-adjustable guide-frame transversely to its length, and two endless laterally-flexible chains adapted to the chain-guides and provided with suitable means for holding the selvages of the fabric and stretching said fabric between the guides.

9. In a tentering-machine, the combination of a longitudinal chain guide frame having one portion of its guide made of irregular or sinuous form, a second longitudinal chainguide frame divided longitudinally into sections and having a chain-guide one portion of which is made of irregular or sinuous form, a series of carriages to which the several sections of the guide-frame are pivoted end to end in pairs, a series of transverse screws, nuts upon the screws, springs between the nuts and carriages, and traveling chains for the chain-guides having means for'holding the selvages of the cloth and stretching it.

10. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two longitudinal frames, means to support the frames and hold them against longitudinal movement, means to adjust the frames relatively to or from each other, means for holding the frames apart with an elastic pressure to keep the fabric under tension and compensate for variations in its width, two endless chains having means for holding the selvages of the fabric for stretching it, and means carried by the frames for guiding the chains in a serpentine or .zigzag course, whereby the fabric during its forward travel is pulled transversely alternately in opposite directions. 11. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two longitudinal frames, means to support the frames and hold them against longitudinal movement, means for holding the guides apart with an elastic pressure to keep the cloth IIO the fabric, two endless chains having means for holding the selvages of the fabric for stretching it, and means carried by the frames for guiding the chains in a serpentine or zigzag course, whereby the fabric during its forward travel is pulled transversely alternately in opposite directions.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

ANDREW MOLEAN.

Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, M. J. EYRA. 

